Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Chapter IX.
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them farewell in the most solemn manner. She
allowed them to kiss her hand, and assured them of
her most gracious favor. On the succeeding day, the
other members of the imperial family manifested
similar sympathy. Then, however, the difficulties began.
That these heavily-laden gentlemen could not even in
St. Petersburg secure adequate means of transportation,
makes quite a comical impression. On this account
they were detained until late in August, and they
would no doubt have been unable to reach Siberia
in 1733, if Bering had not left for them in Tver a
conveniently equipped vessel, which carried them the
same autumn down the Volga to Kazan. They did
not reach Tobolsk, however, until January, 1734.
Bering, who was to be supplied by them with
surveyors and instruments for his Arctic expedition, and
who could not, before their arrival, form an estimate
of the size of his river transports to be used in the
spring, was obliged repeatedly and very forcibly to
urge them to make haste. Here the disagreements
began, and were continued concerning petty affairs,
which history finds it unnecessary to dwell upon.
On May 2, 1734, the Tobol was launched amid the
firing of cannon, the blare of trumpets, and the merry
draining of goblets. The vessel had a keel of 70 feet,
was 15 feet wide, and 7 feet deep. It carried two masts,
some small cannon, and a crew of 56 men, among
them first mate Sterlegoff and two cartographers,
under the command of Lieut. Ofzyn. As the
provincial government had secured neither magazines nor
provisions, nor attended to any other preparations on the
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